Popcorn Ceiling Removal cost breakdown
At a mid-range, national-average baseline, a typical popcorn ceiling removal project is estimated at $1,000 to $3,000. The table below breaks the cost down so you can see where your project is likely to land.
| Scope | Cost per sq ft | Typical total (1,000 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Scrape only | $1 to $2 /sq ft | About $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Scrape and retexture | $1.50 to $3 /sq ft | About $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Scrape and smooth | $2 to $4 /sq ft | About $2,000 to $4,000 |
| With asbestos abatement | $3 to $7 /sq ft | About $3,000 to $7,000 |
Popcorn Ceiling Removal cost by project size
Most of your popcorn ceiling removal cost scales with size. Here is the estimated national-average range at a few common project sizes.
| Ceiling area (square feet) | Estimated total cost | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| 500 square feet | $500 to $1,500 | Smaller project |
| 1,000 square feet | $1,000 to $3,000 | Typical project |
| 1,750 square feet | $1,750 to $5,250 | Larger project |
What drives popcorn ceiling removal cost
- Ceiling area in square feet.
- Finish: scrape only, retexture, or smooth.
- Asbestos testing and abatement if present.
- Ceiling height and access.
- Painting after removal.
Key cost factors
Test for asbestos first
Popcorn ceilings installed before the 1980s may contain asbestos. Testing is inexpensive and important; if positive, licensed abatement is required and roughly doubles the cost.
Finish level
Scraping and retexturing is the standard. A modern smooth finish takes more skim-coating and sanding, which costs more but looks the best.